Ironing apparatus



June 7, 1960 E. E. FOSTER IRONING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 t.%

Filed 001:. 21. 1957 INVENTDR' TFIIII.

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June 7, 1960 E. E. FOSTER IRONING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 21, 1957 1 i/ NVENTO/P flw lhm y%%M /Q%WM 'M ATTORNEYS.

nited States Patent 2,939,230 IRONING APPARATUS Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex., assignor to Majik-Ironers, Inc., Austin, Tex., a Texas corporation Filed Oct. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 691,429

14 Ciairns. (Cl. 3830) This invention relates to ironing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus of the type in which a hand iron is supported by linkage for horizontal movement over an ironing board. It has heretofore been proposed to utilize a vertically movable support for a linkage sup porting an iron which is latched in its lowered position for ironing and released to allow a spring to raise the support and linkage to elevate the iron above the board. The present invention relates to ironing apparatus of this type and has for one of its objects the provision of improved ironing apparatus in which the latching means and all operating parts are carried by the movable sup- OIt. p Another object is to provide ironing apparatus in which the latch is controlled by an electric motor which is completely silent and which functions rapidly and efliciently.

Another object is to provide ironing apparatus in which the electric motor drives a cam to release the latch against a spring so that if the linkage is held down and the motor continues to operate no damage to the parts will result.

Still another object is to provide ironing apparatus in which the motor is controlled by a first switch on the iron and a second switch on the control which is controlled by movement of the latch and by a cam on the motor.

According to a feature of the invention, the second switch is controlled to be closed when the latch is in engaged position and by a holding cam on the motor to insure operation, of the motor through a complete cycle each time it is started. The second switch is held open when the latch is in its disengaged position and the motor is at the end of a cycle.

A further object of the invention is to provide ironing apparatus in which all of the parts are carried by a frame and an ironing board is hingedly connected to the frame to swing to either a horizontal ironing position or to a storage position folded against the frame.

According to a feature of the invention, the ironing board is hinged to a supporting member which is in turn hinged to the frame to move between an extended position to support the ironing board and a folded position against the frame.

A still further object is to provide ironing apparatus in which the ironing board is retained in its horizontal ironing position on the supporting member in such a way as to be free of supporting obstructions throughout the major portion of its length for convenient ironing in a sitting position.

A still further object is to provide ironing apparatus in which the frame and ironing board are supported against tipping over when the ironing board is in horizontal position by the supporting member for the ironing board and by a second supporting member hinged to the frame and foldable outward therefrom.

According to a feature of the invention, the two supporting members are hinged together for simultaneous 2,939,230 Patented June 7, 1960 "ice movement to extended or folded position and latch means is provided to hold them in extended position.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of ironing apparatus embodying the invention in ironing position;

Figure 2 is an end elevation looking from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing the apparatus in folded storage position; I

Figure 4 is a partial front view similar to Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 5 is a partial horizontal section;

Figure 6 is a partial side elevation with parts broken away to show the latching and supporting means,

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the support in lowered position, and

Figure 8 is a circuit diagram.

The apparatus, as shown, comprises a frame indicated at 10 which may be formed of tubing bent into a U shape with a horizontal top piece, vertical side legs and feet 11 formed on the legs to rest on the floor. Housing parts 12 may be attached to the frame to enclose the mechanism carried thereby to protect the mechanism and to provide a pleasing appearance. The housing parts may include a top cover or apron 13 which may also serve as a shelf for receiving and holding clothes during an ironing operation.

A U-shaped supporting member 14 is hinged to one leg of the frame 10 on a vertical axis to swing between an extended operating position, as shown in Figure 2, and a folded storage position, as shown in Figure 3. The supporting member 14 carries an ironing board 15 which is hingedly connected thereto by means of links 16 pivoted at their upper ends to the ironing board on an axis adjacent to one end of the board and at their lower ends to points on the supporting member 14 spaced below the top thereof. The ironing board can swing with the links 16 between the horizontal ironing position, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 and a vertical stored position in which it lies flat against the supporting member 14, as shown in Figure 3. By the use of the links 16, the ironing board may be supported near one end on the supporting member 14 and may still stand with its lower end close to the floor when it is in the stored position shown in Figure 3.

In order to support the ironing board in its horizontal position, the supporting member 14 is provided with a horizontally extending arm 17 projecting horizontally from the top cross member of the supporting member 14. The ironing board may be provided with a cross brace 18 in the form of a tube, as shown, which carries a pin 19. At its outer end, the arm 17 is formed with a slot or notch into which the pin 19 may fit to support the ironing board rigidly against lateral movement on the supporting member when it is in ironing position. When the board is folded to stored position, the pin will lift out of the slot or notch to allow the board to move to the position shown in Figure 3.

In the ironing position, the supporting member 14 tends to stabilize the frame to prevent it from tipping over, but it has been found that additional support is necessary near the opposite end of the frame. For this purpose, a second supporting member 21 is provided. As shown the support member 21 is L-shaped with a vertical arm hinged through pivots 210 on a vertical pivot axis to the opposite end of the frame 10 and with a lower horizontally extending foot to engage the floor. When the foot is swung outward as shown in Figures 1, 2 annd 4, it will engage the floor at a point widely spaced from the supporting member 14 and will provide a high degree of stability to the apparatus. When the apparatus is folded to stored position, the supporting member 21 will lie closely against the frame with its foot portion underlying the end of the board, as shown in'Figures 3 and 7.

The frame 10 also carries a supporting member .22 which is mounted for-vertical-movement relative to the frame and which carries an iron supporting linkage. The linkage, as shown, comprises a first arm 23 pivoted-to-the upper end of the support 22 and a forearm 2401i which a conventional hand'i'ron '25 may be supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. The iron may be of conventional construction modified to carry a switch 26 and an operating handle 27 for the switch which overlies theconventional' iron handle to be engaged and depressed by the hand of an operator during use. The arms 23 and 24 ma y,be constructed as more particularly described and claimed in my Ratent No. 2,648,146. so that the free end of the forearm 24 willalways move in. a horizontal plane. V

Whenlthe. support 22 is elevated, as shown in the. draw. logs, the iron will lie ata level spaced above the ironing board. When it is desired to.use:th e..iron, the ioperator. may grasp it and move it. down on.'matferial on the board bymoying the support 22,;downward foranironing operation; When the iron is released it will be raised to the inactive positionfshown by thernechanism carrying the napper d sq ihed h reinaf erhe ap a atus i510 b used or an oning pe don, the BPPQ ti mem rs 14. 1 42.1 i be swung.

outward fr orn the frame lll and the ironingboarcl will be novedio itsihori zohtal position in which it rests on the top cross piece of the supporting member 14 and on the arm 17. It will be seen that in this position, due to the fact that the supporting member 14 is higher than the frame 10 or the supporting member 2 1, the major portion of the length of the ironing board is free and unobstructed. Thus materials ofdiiferent types may be ironed easily. from'a sitting position without the interference of anyb oard supporting structure and materials which must he slipped overthe end of the board can easily be handled without interference. At the completion of an ironing operation the iron is swung back toward the support 22,

as shown in Figure 3, the board is moved to a vertical position and thesupporting members are swung back into nested relation against the frame. To facilitate swinging ofthe supporting members and to secure the supporting members infextended position during an ironing opera tion a latching linkage, as best seen in Figures and 6, is provided. This linkage comprises an arm 28 secured to one of the uprights of the supporting member 14, and

projecting therefrom. A connecting link. 29 is pivoted at one end to the arm 28 and at its opposite end to a link latch member 32 is urged to its latching position by a spring 35 and may be released by a link 36 projecting beyond the adjacent vertical leg of the supporting member 14 for convenient access. When the link 36 is pushed upward, as seen in Figure 5, it will disengage the latch member 32 from the pins 33 and 34 so that the supporting members may be folded inward to their stored position. When the supporting members are swung outward to their ironing position, the latch will automatically be engaged by the spring 35 to hold the apparatus in condition for use.

The support 22 is supported on the frame for vertical movement by a parallelogram-type linkage so that it will move vertically without tilting. This linkage, as best seen in Figures 4 to 7, comprises a lower H-shaped frame having side members 37 pivoted on horizontal pivots 38 to the opposite sides of the frame 10 and with a cross member 39 securing the side members rigidly together. A horiaontalbar 41 is provided betweenthe free ends of the side members 37 and has the support 22 rigidly secured thereto. Near the top of the frame a link 42, generally parallel to the-side members 37;, is pivoted at. one end on a pivot 43 on theframe 10. and at its opposite end to support 22; Inthis way the support; 22 may move 31 which is pivoted to the supporting member 21 at a pointspaced from its pivotal connection to the frame. Due to this linkage, when the support member 14 is folded the support-21 part of the way out to its extended position where it is readily accessible to be swungout the remain-.

der'of the way. If thesupporting member 21 is swung out it will act through the linkage to swing. the member 14 out to its fully extended position. Similarly, when either of the supporting members is swung back inwardly against the frame it will act through the linkage to move the other supporting member at least part of the way toward its folded position where it can easily be pressed against thelframe to its fully folded position.

In order to hold the supporting members in extended position, a latch mechanism is provided comprising a pivotedlatch member 32 pivoted on the outer end of the arm 28 and engageable, as shown in Figure 6, with a pin 33-fixedly secured to the frame 10 and a secondpin 34 securedto the link 29. When'the latch member 32 is in V engagement with both pinsf33 and 34 'it latches the supvertically and isguided' by the linkage against tilting.

The support is normally urgedto; its raised position by a tension spring 44 connected atone end to one of 'the sidemernbers 37 spaced from its pivotal mounting 38 and at its opposite end to, the. link 42 substantially in alignment with its pivotdiz: The spring 44 isselectecl to be of such strength that it will raise the entire supporting mechanismand the iron to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 without being stronger than is, required; so that the iron may easily: be lowered for use.

In order to hold the support in lowered position for ironing, aylatching means is provided carried by the support for movement, therewith, As shown, the latching means comprises a c m plate 45 secured to one of the side members 37 and a pivoted latch arm 46 pivoted intermediate its, ends on the support 22. The cam plate 45 is formed with-Van, arcuate side surface 47 and a lower cam surface 48 at an angle to the surface 47 and preferably has near the upper end; of the surface 47 a retaining notch 49. The latch arm 46 carries at its lower end a roll 51 which is movable over the cam surface. A spring 52 connects the latch arm 46 tothe lower end-of the support; 22 to urge the roller 51 into engagement with the camplate 45. r

When the support is elevated, as shown in Figure 6, the rolle 51 will rest in the,- notch 49. which acts as a detent to hold the support elevated. Asthe support is moved down toward'the position of: Figure 7,, the roller 51 will r oll over the surface 47 in a true arc so that it has; no latching eflectr However, as soon as thev roller passes thesurface47- and engages the lower surface 48 it latches the support against upward. movement by pro.- viding in effect a rigid'linkextending diagonallybetween the support 22 and one of the side members-37.v The angle of. the surface 48 is so chosen'that the desired latch ing effect will be produced; and the surface may. have a length suflicient to produce the desired. latching act-ion over an, appreciable range of vertical movement; of the support22 so that fabrics of different thickness may be- The spring 52 has such. strength in ironed effectively. a relation to-the angle of the, surface 48 as to overcome completely. the lifting. effect of thespring 44: when. the support is lowered and may, if desired, actually. exert a greater, degree of, force than thisto-provide. downward pressureon the iron in additiontoitsown weight.

its latching to its released position.

The motor 53 is controlled by the switch 26 on the iron and by a second switch 57 in series therewith carried by the support 22. The switch 57 is controlled by a lever 58 pivoted on the support and having a roller 59 at its free end engageable with a four lobe cam 61 driven by the motor 53. In addition to the cam and roller the lever 58 is controlled by an arm 62 rigidly secured thereto and extending downward therefrom to be engaged by a pin 63 on the latch arm 46.

When the iron is in its elevated position with the lever 27 free the switch 26 will be closed and the support will occupy the position shown in Figure 6. At this time, the lever 58 can swing downward into a depression in the cam 61 and engage an operating button on the switch 57 to open this switch. Thus at this time the motor is de-energized.

When the iron is to be used the operator will grasp the iron handle and will simultaneously depress the lever 27 to open the switch 26. The operator can exert sufficient effort on the iron handle to force the support 22 down to the position of Figure 7 against the spring 44. During this movement the roller 51 will move over onto the latch surface 48 to latch the support down and will swing counter-clockwise, as seen in Figure 7, to move the pin 63 into engagement with the finger 62. This will raise the lever 53 to release the operating button of switch 57 and allow this switch to close. The parts will occupy the position shown in Figure 7 as long as the support is depressed and the iron is being used.

When the iron is released the switch 26 will be closed and a circuit will be completed through the switches 26 and 57 in series to operate the motor 53. The motor will turn the cams 55 and 61 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figures 6 and 7, and upon initial turning thereof one of the lobes of the cam 55 will engage the roller 56 and swing the latch lever 46 clockwise to disengage the roller 51 from the latching surface 48. At this time the latch is released and the spring 44 will raise the support to elevate the iron above the ironing board to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2.

When the latch lever 46 tends to turn clockwise, the pin 63 will move away from the finger 62 so that the lever 58 will tend to swing down to open the switch 57. However, after the first initial turning of the cam 61 an elevated surface thereof will engage the roller 59 to hold the lever 58 elevated so that the switch 57 will remain closed and the motor will continue to run until the roller 59 drops into the next depression in the cam 61 at the end of a complete cycle.

In the event the operator should continue to hold the iron and support down with the lever 27 released and the switch 26 closed the motor will continue to operate, but no damage will be done since the latch lever 46 will simply be swung back and forth by the cam and spring 52. It is therefore impossible to damage the mechanism by improper operation.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be understood that it is illustrative only and not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Ironing apparatus comprising an upright frame, a supporting member pivoted to the frame adjacent one end thereof on a vertical axis and including a horizontally elongated supporting part, an ironing board, links pivotally connected at one end to the ironing board on an axis adjacent to one end thereof and at their other end to the supporting member on an axis below the top thereof whereby the ironing board can swing from a horizontal position in which it rests on said part to a vertical position in which it lies against the supporting member, linkage carried by the frame, and an iron supported by the linkage, and means mounting the linkage and iron for vertical movement toward and away from the ironing board, the supporting member being pivotal about its pivoted connection to the frame from an extended position projecting out from the frame to a retracted position folded substantially flat against the frame.

2. Ironing apparatus comprising an upright frame, a supporting member pivoted to the frame adjacent one end thereof on a vertical axis and including a horizontally elongated supporting part, an ironing board, links pivotally connected at one end to the ironing board on an axis adjacent to one end thereof and at their other end tothe supporting member on an axis below the top thereof whereby the ironing board can swing from a horizontal position in which it rests on said part to a vertical position in which it lies against the supporting member, a second supporting member pivoted to the frame adjacent to the other end thereof on a vertical axis, the supporting members being swingable from extended positions projecting outward from the frame to retracted positions folded substantially flat against the frame, and linkage interconnecting the supporting members to cause them to move simultaneously toward their extended and retracted positions.

3. The ironing apparatus of claim 2 including latch means cooperating with the linkage to hold it in the position in which the supporting members are extended.

4. Ironing apparatus comprising an upright frame, a supporting member pivoted to the frame adjacent one end thereof on a vertical axis and including a horizontally elongated supporting part, an ironing board, links pivotally connected atone end to the ironing board on an axis adjacent to one end thereof and at their other end to the supporting member on an axisbelow the top thereof whereby the ironing board can swing from a horizontal position in which it rests on said part to a vertical position in which it lies against the supporting member, a horizontally projecting supporting bar on said supporting part to underlie the ironing board and hold it in said horizontal position, and interengaging parts on the supporting bar and the ironing board to connect them together, the supporting member being pivotal about its pivoted connection to the frame from an extended position projecting out from the frame and with the supporting bar extending parallel to the frame to a retracted position folded substantially flat against the frame and with the supporting bar extending over the top of the frame.

5. Ironing apparatus comprising an upright frame having spaced vertical legs at one side, an inverted U-shaped supporting member having one of its legs hinged on a vertical axis to one of the legs of the frame for swinging from an extended position projecting outward from the frame to a folded position against the frame, an ironing board, links pivoted at one end to the legs of the supporting member adjacent the tops thereof and to the ironing board adjacent one end thereof, the ironing board being movable to a horizontal position overlying the supporting member when the supporting member is in its extended position and to a vertical position fiat against the supporting member when the supporting member is in its folded position, linkage including pivotally interconnected links pivoted at one end to a horizontal pivot carried by the frame with the linkage projecting upward therefrom, and an iron carried by the other end of the linkage and movable over the ironing board when it is in its horizontal position and movable. to a position over the frame adjacent to the ironing to hold the linkage down, an electric motor in the frame, means operatively connecting the motor to the latch means to release the latch means when the motor is operated, and control means for the motor including a switch carried by the iron. 7 i f 7. Ironing apparatus comprising an upright frame having spaced vertical legs ;at one side, an inverted U-shaped supporting member having one of'its legs hinged on a vertical aids to one of the legs of the frame for swinging from anextended position projecting outward from the frame to a folded position against. the frame, an ironing board, linkspivoted at one end to'the legs of the supporting member adjacent the tops thereof and to the ironing board adjacent one end thereof, theironing board being movable to a horizontal'position overlying the supporting member when the supporting "member is in its extended position and to a vertical position flat against the supporting member when the supporting member is in its folded position, a foot member hinged to the other leg of the frame on a vertical axis and swingable from an extended'position projecting from the frame to a folded position against the frame, linkage connecting the foot member to the supporting member tocause them to move simultaneously toward their extended and folded positions, and latch means including cooperating parts on the linkage and the frame to hold the supporting and foot members in their extended positions. V

8. Ironing apparatus comprising a frame, an ironing board, means to support the ironing board in horizontal position adjacent to the frame, a support, linkage means carried by the support and carrying an iron for horizontal movement over the ironing board, means mounting the support on the frame for vertical movement to raise the iron above the ironing board or to lower the iron onto the board, a spring urging the support upward, a latch member pivotally mountedon the support and engageable with the mounting means to hold the support in lowered position, an electric motor carried by the support, means operated by the motor and operably connected to the latch member to disengage the latch member, and control means for the motor including a switch on the iron and a switch on the support operated by the motor and by movement of the support.

9. Ironing apparatus comprising a frame, an ironing board, means to support the ironing board in horizontal position adjacent to the frame, a support, linkage means carried by the support and carrying an iron for horizontal movement over the ironing board, means mounting the support on the .frame for vertical movement to raise the iron above the ironing board or to lower the iron onto the board, a spring urging the support upward; a

latch member pivotally mounted on the support and engageable with the mounting means to hold the support in lowered position, an electric motor carried by the support, a cam operated by the motor and engageable with the latch member to move it to disengaged position, control means for the motor including a first switch on the iron and a second switch. on the support, a cam operated by the motor to operate the second switch, and means including a part on the latch member operably connected to the second switch and controlled by movement of' the latch member to operate the second switch.

10. In an ironing apparatus, iron mounting means comprising a frame, a support, linkage means carried by the support and carrying an iron for movement in horizontal planes, vertically swingable links connecting the support to the frame for vertical movement, a spring urging the support upward, latchmeans including interengageable latch parts on the support and one-of the links to hold the support in lowered position, an electric motor mounted on the support and movable vertically with the support and links, means operated by the motor to disengage the latchparts' from each other, and control means for the motor including a switch carried by the iron and a second switch .carriedby the support, and means operated by movement of the latch parts to operate the second switch.

11. In an ironing apparatus, iron mounting means comprising a frame, a support, linkage means carried by the support and carrying an iron for movement in horizontal planes, vertically swingable links connecting thesupport to the frame for vertical movement, a spring urging the support upward, latch means including interengage able latch parts on the support and one of the links to hold the support in lowered position, an electric motor mounted on the support and movable vertically with the support and links, a cam operated by the motor engageable with one of the latch parts to move it out of engagement with the other, control means for the motor including a first switch on the iron and a second switch carried by the support, a cam operated by the motor to operate the second switch, and means operated by movement of the latch parts to operate the second switch.

12. In an ironingapparatus, iron mounting means comprising a frame, a support, linkage means carried by the support and carrying an iron for movement in horizontal planes, vertically swingable links connecting the support to the frame for vertical movement, a spring urging the support upward, a latch arm pivoted on the support, a latch part carried by one of the links to be engaged by one end of the latch arm to hold the support down, a spring urging the latch arm toward the part, an electric motor carried by the support, means operatively connecting the motor'to the latch arm to move said one end thereof away from the'latch part, and control means for the motor including a switch on the iron and a second switch on the support, and means operated by movement of the latch arm to operate the second switch.

13. The construction of claim 12 in which the latch part is formed with two cam surfaces at an angle to each other, one of which lies generally normal to movement of said one end of the latch arm and is engaged by said one end of the latch arm when the support is raised and the other of which lies at an acute angle to movement of said one end of the latch arm and is engaged by said one end of the latch arm when the support is lowered.

14. In an ironing apparatus, iron mounting means comprising a frame, a support, linkage means carried by the support and carrying an iron for movement in horizontal planes, vertically swingable links connecting the support to the frame for vertical movement, a spring urging the support upward, a latch arm pivoted on the support, a latch part carried by one of the links to be engaged by one end of the latch arm to hold the support down, a spring urging the latch arm toward the part, a rotary electric motor carried by the support, a cam driven by the motor and engageable with the latch arm to move said one end thereof away from the latch part, control means for the motor including a first switch on the iron and a second switch carried by the support, an operating lever for the second switch, means on the latch arm References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,644,255 Foster July 7, 1953 2,661,553 Foster Dec. 8, 1953 2,799,100 Prick July 16, 1957 

